Elections of 1945-46

The general elections of 1945–46 in British India served as a pivotal political watershed, acting as a virtual referendum on the issue of Partition and the creation of Pakistan. Announced on September 19, 1945, by Viceroy Lord Wavell, these elections were conducted to reconstitute both the Central Legislative Assembly and eleven Provincial Legislative Assemblies. The elections tested the representative claims of the two major political parties: the Indian National Congress, which fought on the platform of an undivided and secular India, and the All-India Muslim League, which campaigned on the demand for a separate Muslim state.

Announcement and Electoral Franchise

Legal Framework and Voting Franchise

The Central Legislative Assembly elections of December 1945 took place under the provisions of the Government of India Act 1919 because the federal portion of the Government of India Act 1935 was never implemented. In contrast, the provincial elections held in early 1946 operated under the Government of India Act 1935.

• The elections were based on a strictly limited franchise tied to tax, property, and educational qualifications.
• Less than 10% of the total population in British Indian provinces was eligible to vote for the central assembly, while approximately 13% enjoyed provincial voting rights.
• Separate electorates were retained, meaning Muslim voters elected Muslim candidates, and general non-Muslim voters chose non-Muslim representatives.

Election Results and Tally

Central Legislative Assembly Results (December 1945)

The Central Legislative Assembly contained 102 elected seats. The Indian National Congress won the vast majority of general non-Muslim seats, while the All-India Muslim League captured every single reserved Muslim seat. | Political Party | Seats Won | Share of Electoral Outcome | | | | | | Indian National Congress | 57 | Swept 91.3% of non-Muslim general votes | | All-India Muslim League | 30 | Won 100% of reserved Muslim seats (100% of Muslim vote) | | Akali Dal | 2 | Secured Sikh seats in Punjab | | Europeans | 8 | Reserved community seats | | Independents | 5 | Non-aligned candidates |

Provincial Legislative Assemblies Results (January–March 1946)

In the provincial assembly elections covering 1,585 seats across eleven provinces, a similar pattern of polarization unfolded. Congress won 923 seats (58.2% overall), sweeping general constituencies, whereas the Muslim League won 429 out of 492 reserved Muslim seats (87%).

Provincial Governance and Ministry Formation

Congress Majority Provinces

Congress formed ministries in eight provinces: Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Central Provinces, Madras, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Orissa, and United Provinces. In NWFP, Dr. Khan Sahib led a Congress ministry, demonstrating that the Muslim League’s hold was not uniform across all Muslim-majority regions.

Muslim League Provinces

The Muslim League formed governments in Bengal under H.S. Suhrawardy and in Sindh under Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah.

The Punjab Coalition

Punjab presented a unique political alignment. Although the Muslim League won 73 of the 86 reserved Muslim seats, it failed to secure an absolute majority. Khizar Hayat Khan Tiwana of the Unionist Party formed a coalition government with Congress and the Akalis, keeping the Muslim League out of power in Punjab until early 1947.

Key Exam Facts

• Viceroy Announcement: Lord Wavell announced the elections on September 19, 1945, alongside proposals to form an executive council and a constitution-making body.
• Central Assembly Framework: Held under the Government of India Act 1919 (102 elective seats).
• Provincial Assembly Framework: Held under the Government of India Act 1935 (1,585 total seats).
• Congress Leadership: Chaired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad during the election period.
• Central Assembly President: Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar was elected Speaker/President of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1946.
• Nationalist Victory in NWFP: Congress won 30 of 50 total seats in NWFP under Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Dr. Khan Sahib.
• Punjab Coalition Head: Malik Khizar Hayat Khan Tiwana headed the Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition ministry in Punjab.
• Constituent Assembly Formation: The newly elected provincial legislators acted as an electoral college in mid-1946 to indirectly elect members to the Constituent Assembly of India.